Developing Safer Energy Drink Formulations to Protect Dental Enamel

Recent research conducted by scientists at Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil highlights promising strategies to reduce dental enamel erosion caused by energy drinks. The study involved adding specific calcium compounds to a popular energy drink and assessing their protective effects in a controlled laboratory setting. Findings revealed that incorporating calcium-based formulations significantly raised the pH level of the beverage, making it less acidic and less harmful to tooth enamel.

Dental erosion is a chemical process that dissolves enamel and dentin independently of bacterial activity. Acidic substances, particularly frequent consumption of certain beverages, can weaken the mineral structure of teeth, leading to surface demineralization, increased sensitivity, and even structural damage such as concavities and thinning of tooth edges. Energy drinks are especially problematic because they often contain high concentrations of acidulants used to stabilize flavor and color, which can sharply lower the pH and accelerate enamel degradation.

To explore potential solutions, the researchers developed various formulations by adding different calcium compounds to the energy drink, including a calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex, dicalcium malate, and calcium citrate malate. They then exposed enamel specimens derived from healthy molars to these modified drinks, comparing their erosive effects to unaltered energy drinks and calcium-supplemented orange juice.

The results demonstrated that calcium fortification, especially with the calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex, increased the beverage’s pH and reduced surface roughness and microhardness loss of the enamel specimens. These modifications effectively lessened the erosive impact, preserving the enamel's integrity better than standard energy drinks. These findings suggest that reformulating energy drinks to include certain calcium complexes could significantly lower their potential to cause dental erosion.

The study underscores the importance of beverage reformulation to promote oral health, particularly for individuals who frequently consume energy drinks. Future research aims to determine optimal dosage levels and examine real-world conditions, including the effects over longer periods and sensory acceptability of these modified formulations. Such innovations could be pivotal in reducing dental damage linked to dietary choices and enhancing preventive dental care.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-exploring-safer-energy-recipes-dental.html